Stress Busters To Get Your Family Through A Pandemic Winter
Updated 17th January
Our top tips to stay happy and healthy
1. Be Together
First things first, mom and dad have to prioritise time together. Nothing can strain a relationship and cause stress and anxiety faster than living in a house together without actually spending time with one another. Making space for quality time together is crucial for any relationship to flourish, and it doesn’t need to be difficult. Plan an evening of dancing together, ordering takeout, having an indoor picnic, or exploring the world’s museums from behind the screen of your laptop. And if you’re short on ideas, try a Box42 date night!
2. Exercise!
Another important step you can take to help you cope with the pandemic’s effects on both physical and mental health, is to exercise. This doesn’t mean you have to set up a home gym, as even a quick cardiovascular routine, which the NHS suggests will help you feel great while maintaining your weight, is a great start. Remember, exercise triggers feel-good hormones—something we all need right now!
3. Tidy Up
With no fear of visitors dropping by, it’s easy to be more lax about tidiness. But don’t give in – clean the house! Plan one day each week to get rid of clutter. If the air feels stale, stagnant, or just overall negative, grab some sage and smudge. Managing the mess now will create a more positive atmosphere moving forward.
4. Cut Down On Media
Something else you can do for the whole family is limit the amount of time you spend watching the news. Negative media only fuels ill feelings. So turn off the TV, cut down on social media, and only seek out news on a need-to-know basis. When you quit listening to all the negative talk in the world, you’ll feel better about life and realise there are healthier ways to stay informed.
5. Reevaluate Your Mindset
It’s easy to feel like you are trapped at home. But this kind of self-talk only strengthens negative feelings about the pandemic. Instead, look at your time at home as an opportunity to bond with your family. The Oh She Glows blog asserts that learning how to see the good in the bad is one great way to grow.
6. Express Your Creativity
Participating in creative activities, whether drawing, painting, making music or through other channel, is a great way to relieve stress. The entire family can do it no matter how artsy or creative you all are. Psychologists note that 75% of people show reduced stress hormone levels after only 45 minutes of engaging in artistic endeavours.
7. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
One of the biggest stressors during the pandemic is loneliness. Stop it before it starts by making a point to communicate and engage with people outside of your household. For example, video call grandparents, or meet in your driveway for a socially-distanced fire pit with the neighbours. Kids may also enjoy making new friends online (with parental supervision, of course) or with a penpal from another country.
These are just a few ideas to stick in your back pocket as we approach what may be the worst of the pandemic. Cool weather means we will be inside more, but it does not mean that we have to let stress linger indoors with us. From creative date nights to communicating with friends and family, what you do now and in the coming days will heavily influence how you and your family remember this unique winter
What are your favourite indoor family activities?
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